Rotary internal combustion engine



Nov. 16, 1943. o. c. TALBOT 2,334,655 I ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 r f A...

attorneqg Nov. 16, 1943. o. c. TALBOT 2,334,655

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 14, 1942 5 Shets-Sheet 2 attorneqa 0g 4' rd Tal i f Y Nov. 16, 1943.

I ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Envcnlor o. c. TALBOT 2,334,655

Nov. 16, 1943. o. c. TALBOT 2,334,655

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 q v vv.

Nov. 16, 1943; o. c. TALBOT ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 14, 1942 5 Sheets-$heet 5 I lhwcnto' ()Z 'Ver 0 Tall) (Ittoum I Patented NOV. 1943 1 liver Coe Talbot,Ka.nse,s Gity; Mo assignor of onee'halt to- Joseph M. No1an; Ka;nsas-Gity, Mo; V 7

' pressiongposition.

Th i venti n r et to r t ry l m fflie iqq .bustion en gines, end has for its general object t qd v n en ne o t i in i 11 e p osiv ha is om r h e terh lh fi .wit i enie pl o eh mb iormed Within a19- n r h w e ia Pa tio therein nd a ier q to i ,o r o ii st n W t in je wa m vabl t iand a im e a in s ar 'inqvemeh .wi i he-ei p ham e t Per i exp n- Sion o the eases-endion purp aven ingsaid gases aftereach firing stroke.

'Anotherobjeot of the invention is t r eqo uctionio :uth t m t on nw ich the engine is ,provided with rneansfor the liquid :eooiinghoth of the fixed and rev01-ving or opra in pa .9 ,.th en ne, h y assistin to overcome the luorieaition -problems usually encounteredin .this genereltype of engine. 1

A still furthers-object of the invention, is to, pro

duce an engine of strong, durable, simple. and

t brod e e i rope q piston there nr ndi cer a n pe sfl or coo ere en w th th ir tor. p ston, id gtomee- Fi ure 8 is nienlareedisee iqn tak niyn th Jine-VVI ZTVIII o :Eieune b t r owinesnarts of th casi end. otherynert fn sappearineiinv ,Ei ureA-BM i o U Fi ure .1 is a fra mentary exterior. perspectiv wiewsofzon tsideofthe asine..1 f1 V: 1 Y e Ei mie lilissa fm mentaryinterfor perspective I viewer. thesidepf theveasing hown inflame?- rFiglln l-l is a erossiseetion,on}theline V inexpensive eonstruotionpendin order that-zit may be fully understood; reference is to. be ;had

to the accompanying drewingsin WhiChL:

1 figure 1 is,, a sectional view of a, rotary ,internal combustion eng-ine embodying the invention, the section; heingpon thelineI-d of Figure .3, with the easing; broken away at two points-to 50 0 3 .rotor'in eievation ,at one point, and

V i isection at the ,otherpoint .;to'.disc1ose .a see- I tion through .atreeiprocatorypiston in gas-com- I Figure 2 israrsection on. the line. II'rH-JIOf Figure 3 with thecasingend rotor broken away to disclose, the enciosedreci-procatory piston in position to start the expulsion :of the: dead .gases.

Figure 13- .is a section on the .line III-JII of Figure '1, omitting; the base support,=butiidisc1osing the explosive mixture supply and control equipment.v i I Figure AZis. a, top plan.

view of' the engine. but

omitting most. ef -the; explosive mixture supply equipment and: the icooling medium circulating ap aratus r Figure J.5: issue and ,rotor on and includes ave-sectional view of the cooling mediumequipment, the view showing the rotor at; a. .diflferent period t of its rotation v to. dis- Qlose \oooling medium passages. leading to and (from'the interior of. said'rotor." 3 I L Figure 6, is an enlargedfragmentary side View of the ro t 0r.- f r 1 Figure '1: is an enlargedseqtion concentrically :Qi.Et lQ OiEOI';.flXiS. onthe; ne YIlrYHM -rfimnfi j r fintbut;as;thouzhstretehedoinra;straight; l ne). 5 to more clearly disclose part of the rotor and a :dienietric section of the casing Fi ur 121s eiseetional iview mitejsm ofgthe v rotor containing-.oneofjhe reciproeetory pistons, the :rotor=heine:shown as composedoitwomem hers inseparatedrelation.

Figure 13 are, diagrammatic, vieitls .toiiiustrate .the respective positions of ,-th,e...intake, exhaust V and;backepressureflreliefe ports vand. passageways.

.7 7' --J3efore "proceeding with a; detailedQdescription of theieengine, ebriefnsynopsissof. the .novelueonstructionand,operation ishdesirable; Thesdraw;

ings disclosewav-eircularnor annulan-hollowirotor ing :pistohsehavingnnoncrank eor-t connecting rods "(two only, being shown, at diametricallyiopposite points), together withvan externalgcompre'ssornor supercharger for eachof the gas intakeip'orts." The..exp1osive mix is efired in i a ;.vchamberl formed between 1 the head .of each ireciprocatingzpiston nnda partitionewall integrelewith therotor. .At

,thehtime Q theeexnlosionh-the reciprocatingpis- V Y ons er nterloeked with Lethe .seneine-oasinepaso' 11111. e en ire vg mm h -ee qsiq r se v p eeminent eignlos ions ai"p1 auedpe fretb H ourfsb nh 'gsjfcarrie 'i'b th biasin nd W, i h m w i 3 W 5 t W explo in P ir 'e1 diametr a l p e fief r 7 We ee o ert, ..Ii Li i i e iq' w l e described as'if theretvere hut one-"expiosio per revolu-tion which wouiiibe true if'there-werejbut one spark plug 'infthe casing and one explosion chamberm the rotor, {The size of the emeritus I V :is:theonlyilimitation. on :the.numb,er of-xplosiohs :p'ersrevolution forswhich it can be-ibuiltg. 4A type ,of compressiongmeenseande.typeofiweter cir u: I V

how an t zslessribe nbu to drive the rotori' ure 3).

lar form, which is shown as comprising a pair of members provided with spokes or'weps 2, secured together by bolts 3. The spokes terminate in a hub 4 which is keyed or otherwise nonrotatably secured to the engine shaft 5. The shaft 5 projects beyond the opposite sides of the rotor l, and is journaled in suitable bearings 8 carried by a pair of casing closure plates or disks 7, provided with circular rims of semicircular cross section of proper size and curvature to just clear the inner lower half of the perimeter of the rotor I, this clearance space being adapted to receive any suitable lubricant.

The confinement of the rotor is completed by a pair of outer semi-circular casing members 8',

corresponding in cross section to the'curvature" of the outer half of tne'rotorJ and completing the lubricating chamber within which said rotor is journaled. The lower outer casing member 8 Y is mounted on any suitable base orengme sup-v port 9. iihe outer casing members 8 and the end closure plates or disks '1 are provided with abutting fianges I0 and bolts may be'used to draw down the parts and secure the casing together in'a unitary structure.

Inasmuch as the present invention involves charging the explosion chambers, hereinafter described, from an outside source of compressed explosive mixture, reference Will now be. had to the compressor so that the description of the parts 'and their operation, will follow along in proper sequence. Secured in any suitable manner in fixed relation to the engine cas1ng,-is a support H which provides a bearing "for oneend of a crank shaft l 2, said crank shalt being driven by the engine shaft 5, through a pair of gears I3 and I4 (Figure 3), at twice the speed of the latter in the present embodiment of the invention. Carried by the support ll is a compression cylinder l5 within which a piston lii .is adapted to reciprocate in timedrelation to the rotation of the shaft 5. The piston it sucks in a charge of gas from an intake manifold Il pasta valve 18 wnichis opened by .a cam l9 fixed to the engine shaft 5. .On the compression stroke of the piston IS, the gas is compressed in cylinder i5, and at the proper time an engine inlet valve 26 is opened bya cam 2| on the engine shaft .75. Each of said valves l8 and ill are reclosed .by suitable springs 22 and 23 respectively (Fig- The rotor l is peripherally provided with one ,or more (two'being shown in the. drawings),

charge-receiving explosion chambers or cylinders 24. The explosion chambers or cylinders have their opposite ends respectively terminating in one section of the 'rotor, in a leading partition 25 (referring to the direction of rotation of the rotor), and a following partition 26 in the other section of said rotor. In orderto bridge the joint between the rotor sections to better hold the explosion, thev chamber may be reinforced by' a'fcylindrical lining 2'! produced by telescoping cylindrical connections between the partitions 25 and 26 (Figure 1). IEloating within the explosion chamber is areciproc'ating piston28, formed at itsrear or trailing end with aprojecting stud 29 providing a thrust or re sistance pointfora spring 30 interposed between the same. and the trailing partition 26..v 'It is to be understoodzthat thespring assisted by a stop hereinafter identified, not only "holds the reciprocating piston against the pressure of the compressedgas entering the intake port-, but

actress I 'ton 28 and the leading partition 25.

As heretofore stated the spring 30 may be assisted in holding the piston 28 against the force ofthe compressed gas mix, by a friction stop 38 abutting the rear face of said piston I .(Figure'l). vThis stop member slides through an opening 38 in the side Wall of the rotor I,

and normally it always abuts the rear end of the piston 28.

' Assuming the rotor l' continues its forward travel after compression of' a change in the chamber 24,- the groove 33 is of such length that 'just as communication is cut off between said groove and the intake port 34, the leading end of the groove registers with a spark or firing plug 40. Ignition at the plug is controlled in timed relation to the engine by any suitable timing mechanism (not shown), which may be driven by the gears 4| on-the shaft 5.

It will be evident to avoid waste of power, means must be provided to prevent backward movement of the reciprocatory piston 28 so that the entire force of the explosion will be exerted against the leading partition 25 to drive the motor. Thus, to avoid waste of power, as nearly as possible concurrently with the explosion, depending on the fiame propagation qualities of the fuel, a spring-advanced radial lock 42 carried by the casing, springs into position to abut a foot 43 formed integrally with the piston 28 so that the force of said explosionr'eacting against the head of piston 28 is used to repel or drive the rotor by force applied tothe partition 25. This radially moving lock 42 projects into a space 44 in the rotor, said space being of sulfieient length to permit the lock to remain in abutment with the foot-or extension 43 on the piston 28, said foot 43 projecting through a slot 45 in the wall of the rotor, until the trailing partition 26 through compression ofthe .spring 30 (Figure?) fully tensions said spring to condition it to move the floating piston 28 forwardly to exhaust the'gases'as continued forward movement of theroto'r brings the front or leading end ,of the groove.33. and the'port 32 into register with an exhaustport31 in the casing wall.

Also, when the explosive mixture has fully expanded a cam'surface 46 at the end of the space 44 in the rotor contacts and represses the lock '42, and a dwell portion 41 on said-rotor, holds the lock repressed until the firing chamber goes through another cycle and again registers with a spark plug. It will be noted by reference to Figuresi'through 'l0,"that the piston lock'elevmer t or elements '42, having radial play in the casing,isorare'accommodated bythe dwell re- ;cess provided in the adjacent sidei of the rotor to avoid interfering with the rotation thereof, the dwellbeing continuous around the rotor except where broken by the space or spaces 44, forming part or parts of the slotor slots 45. Concurrentlywith the'time of the 'ex'plosion the =friction 'stop 38 comes into register with'a'groove ing points and, ofiset Fin relationrtowithe-;alined V haust-ports,is provided-;with a portilflcommuniand the trailing partitionnhf the rotor ll J-ust jacket, and means areo'also provided 'tov-pass cool- Toaceom'plish a forced circulation of the 00011 driving a pair of water pumps 52 and 53 (Figure respectively. The shaft isbored toprovide an I V meson i V I 18in theiwallwoi*the'acasing (Figure 1);;- so that .=.communicates with:ahzfintakeagpassagewayel'lion l 7 .Lonezof the'spokesnf theytrotor :.=is fl-iusicirculated through the rotor ztheapaxti- :;tions-:25'=;and 26s (Figures IQ-and 1:12 :being providedwithiopeningskil (Eigunes,.;1; 3 lgand rl2 )tfor :theqfreepcirculationthereof; --;,Ilhe spoke di'amet "they-force of, the explosion :aswitddrives 1151167101701, forces said stop 38, -outwardly -through;;pressure 1 applied on the stop by the :wedge relationship brought aboutc betweeni the backrofi the-piston"!!! 5 and the edge oftheslot39; 1 After the'explosionandexpansion of nthe gases,

the rotor continues its"travel, the casinglgroove 48 accommodating theprotrudin'gend .oia-thestop 38': until about gthe time the piston v28;-is l: rearmost. position within ;.the: firing chamber, at v which time the; iront end .of the piston-groove I331 communicates :witnthe- ;exhaust :port 231 as 'above 'mentioned. When this -occurs,:.the Fspring 3i! commences to expandi and iorcesfthe pi'stont;

preaucts of combustion T through;v port; 32; groove 33 and 'port 31. Justat th time the-spring 30' has fully advanced the ;piston 218,? the end-of :the stop 38 contacts a cam face 43 (Figure 17); at the 20 frontend of the groove -1 iniytheiiwall'of..the casing, andsaid cam face drives the, stop. 38 inwardly tolagain abut thev rear end .of: thelzpiston 28- to hold the, sameato reinforceethespring 30" against another gas compression-stroke. J In the .drawings,a pair .of, firing ornreciprocatory pistons i d areshowmand the casing is formed with four -i iri ng v :points,; ;as"heretofore mentionedjeach point involving, intakafiring and;

V exhaust; It is to beunderstood.thatztheseparts 30 may be multiplied, preferably in pairs tonmain tain balance-within the available limits of the peripheries of the rotor.-and its*'casing. With the construction shown; simultaneous firing. occurs indiametrically opposite quadrants, and the '3 parts are so timed. r V

It is to be understoodthateas;'commonwith all reciprocating piston type of internalicomb'ustion engines, the rear ;or back :side' of :the piston 28 must communicate withdthe atmosphere-to prevent trapping v of; airand shack-pressure.-

Therefore; the-casingB adjacent :eaoh of? the' fire relation of thexspark plugs and intake and-'exeating 1 with theflatmosphere. Thezexternal 'iperiphery of the rotor,- offset "in relation to its groove 33', is provided witha longitudinally extending grooveforpassagewavfl communicating at one end-bymeans of a port "12*With= the space between the fback' of the reciprocating piston 28 prior to the firing .of'the :charge thevgroove H and port 12 come.into;registering--relation with the relief port it, ,nAsmtheusrotor continuesits forward travel :as tlheretoiore" described, said groove H maintains communication between ports 16 and-.12 through the entire-'cyclejof firing and exhaust -strokesof "the piston 28 to prevent either a pressure or vacuous condition behind; said piston; as will be readily v-runderstoodi V orderzxto effectivelycool 'the engine, the casing. is fornied with a liquid 'circ'ulatingcooling ing liquid through the body'ofi the:hol1ovv"i'otor.]65

ing liquid, the engine-shaft 5- carries a gear 5Q which meshes with-a pair of gears 5|: respectively 1 5). "The water pumps are mounted within an i annular intake and exhaust manifold 541and 55 intake passageway 56 communicating with the 15 28 vforwardly in itschamberid to-iexhausisthef j ;rically lfo'pposite zthe; intake spoke '-:;5:L is also pro- :liquid through ean exhans't spassagewayefill :inlthe shaft 5, which siniturniicommunicates :with the exhaust manifo1d-; ;55 in :which, the epuxn 58:-zis 'mounted; The Qwouter "casing members 5.8 are doubled walled \torprovide asa :cooling' massage so! .:.(Eigures 1, 5:2 3 and-7:5) ,=.forming :a iconlfngijabkfit.

to thewater. inletxmanifoldiid; an'ldilgliametrreally pp itesaid' inlet pipes- 52 iiscan :outlietripi e From "thev iabovegdescription and i'dnawingsg: it

willbeapparentlthat Lhave produced azconstru c- 7 .tion; embodying; the features-set; forthesidesirp a e in the; statementvpfzithe;objects ROfLthG im vention, and while ,Ihavezipresentedthe most approved type of the engine;-;I-.-reservex the, right I to make .suchchanges as properly'fall iwithinsthespirit and scope of theiappendedmlaims.

lde m:

7 i 1 32371 internal I combustion. enginei gfixed annular casing,:.-a 'rotorgrotataibly. mounted in the casing 81 5 having an internal explosion- C ambe \formed with 8 slotuthrough wall', 9.

piston within said chamber having an extension projecting throughisaid xslot, ;a .recess of deter- V s ined len th the. external .walliof' 'the 'urotor receiving the end hf lsaidl extension, a springadvanced lock-carried-;by:lther:casingifor projec 7 ;tion into the, recess for abutment with the ex;

tens on, .& oam surface landgdwell ion :the rotor-to repress;and;hol disaidlockgagainst itskspring -ten ision, means torcompresss'gas mithinf-thelgchamber,

means to hold;ithei'pistoniagainst such gas pres- ;sure' and to return j:it ;tov;original :positio'n to evacuatetheexplosionijchambern 3 1 2.; ;Inja rotary :internal-vzcombustion engine a ,fixed annularicasingza rotori'rotatably mounted a in the casing and-having ian zinternal explosion chamber .fornied; with. a; slotthrough its: wall, -a

piston Within said chamber having anexten'sion projecting through said lslot,1 a. recess not det'ermined length in; thew-external :wall of the: rotor receiving, theyend of snide extension, a, :springadvanced lockvcarriedzbyz the casing for projec- ,tion -:into the recess 1 for abutment= with -the' exv itension a cam-surfaomandudwll on the rotor to repress 4311641101115 saidelock against its :spr-ing tension, means tolcompressigas within the chamber and spring imeanstoaholda the :piston against such, gas pressuresandsto; )return: itto original position to,levacuateitheexplosion chamber. I 3, In a; rotary- :internalmmbustion engine; a stationaryicasing having alhollow :peripheralfcir- :cu-lar chamberl circular incros's section, contain ing gassinletvandexhaust:portsiand a spazrkplug 'betweenthem; a rotorzfitting snugly witlun the said circularchaanber;havingfixedispaced cross 7 V partitions .cpro'vidingi ang ziriterposed 'gcoinbu'stion bustion chamber, the wall-10f the casing having an innergroove extending circumferentially, a radially slidablefriction stop carried by therotor r to alternately protrude intof the combustion chamberjandsaid casing groove, said stop occu-l I iglpying the first-named position-when an explo- Qsion isproducediinthe combustion chamber to a 7 assists in preventing backward movement of the her, a 'recipr ocatory pistonwithin the com mixture against the leading cross partitionor' drive out burned gases, to permit said front wall ofsaid groove to offer resistance to the advance movement of the friction stop and cause the chamber back of the piston,

4. In a rotary internal combustion engine, a rotor having a hollow circular peripheral portion circular in internal cross section, and provided with a. slot in its side wall, an external'circumlatterv to again protrude into the combustion ferential recess extending rearwardlyfrom said slot, a cam at therear end of the recess and a circular dwell or channel struck from the axis of therotor and opening at its-ends into opposite ends of said recess and slot. 7

5. In a rotary internal combustion engine, a rotor having a-hollow circular peripheral portion circular in internal cross section, provided with fixed spaced cross partitions providing an interposed combustion chamber, a passage communicating with the front end of said chamber, and provided with an exhaust opening forward of the leading partition, the wall of therotor having a radialopening and a slot in communication with the ,combustionchamber, the'wall also having a recess registering with said slot, a cam at ,the rear end of therecess, and-a circumferential dwell or channel opening at its opposite ends into said recess and said slot, a recipr'ocatory piston in the combustion chamber provided with a foot projecting through said slot and into said recess, a springlfor moving the=piston forward, means to lock the piston inits forward position, and a friction; stop for protruding through the motor wall opening rearward of the piston to assist in holding the same against back -movement.-

,6. In an internal combustion engineof the rotary type, a stationary casing having a hollow circular peripheral portion and a central portion providing a chambergashaft extending through the axial center of thecentralportion and bearing a journaled relation thereto,the peripheral portion havinga gaspassage, an exhaust .opening and a spark plug between saidgas passage and, exhaust opening, a rotor comprising a central portion secured onthe shaft within the'said casing chamber, and anouter hollow circular peripheral portion fitting snugly within theperipheral portion :of the casing, the outer-portion ofv the rotorlhaving fixed spaced: cross partitions forming an interposed combustion chamber provided with ;a wall opening-for communication once in, each revolutionof therotor with said casing gas passage, spark plugand exhaust ope'riing of the casing, areclprocatory piston in said combustion chamber; yielding means for advancing the piston when unopposed, a 'valve normally closing said gaspas'sagea cam on the shaftfor unseating said valve as the combustion chamber wall opening registersjwith the gas passage of the casing, a spring for reseating said valve as therotor passes-its 'said wall opening out of communication" with said gas passage, a gas manifold, a cylinderconnected thereto, a piston 'in .the cylinder, means-operable by the shaft to reciprocate said piston, a normally seated valve .in the'connection'between the manifold and said cylinder, a cam operable by the shaft for unseating-said valve upon one stroke of said piston, means for reclosin'g said v alve'upon the other stroke of the pistonconcurrently with the open- 'ing'of the gas passage valve, to supply the combustion chamber with-gas under pressure forward of the piston.

,7. In a rotary internal combustion engine, a rotor having a hollow circular peripheral portion circular in cross section, and composed of armate sections'secured together in endwise abutting relation, the adjacent ends of the sections each having a cross partition spaced apart to provide .aninterposed combustion chamber, one of the sections having an extension fitting telescopically within the other section.

8. In a rotary internal combustion engine, a stationary casing including a hollow circular peripheral portion circular in cross section and provided with an intake gas passage, a spark plug and an exhaust opening; a rotor within the peripheral portion of the casing, provided with fixed spaced cross partitions forming an interposed combustion chamber having a port at its front end for alternately receiving fresh gas and dischargingiburnt' gases, and for successive reg- 40 istration with the casing intake gas passage, the spark plug and exhaust opening; a reciprocatory piston in the combustion chamber, having a foot portion projecting'laterally'; the rotor having a circumferential wall slot receiving said piston foot, a recess conforming to and outward of and registering with said slotand receiving the outer end of, said foot, a cam at the rear end of said recess, and. a circumferential dwell inward of the cam and communicating at its opposite ends with the opposite ends .of said recess; a locking element projecting through a wall of the casing, .a spring for advancing said element into the orbit of travel of thepiston foot and cam and into said recess betweenthe piston foot and cam for repression by the latter until its outer end lies insaid dwell, after the force of an explosion in thecombustion chamber has accelerated the movement of the latter relative to the piston, and

a spring inthe combustion chamber to cooperate 0 with the locking element in holding the piston when advanced, against repression when an explosion'occurs, 'and,-after the rotor movement has been accelerated relative tothe piston, to advance the latterrtoscavenge the combustion phamber of dead gases.

. V OLIVER COE TALBOT. 

